William Acland Douglas Anderson

William Acland Douglas Anderson,

(31 October 1829 – 23 January 1882

Biography Anderson was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, the son of Lieut.-Colonel Joseph Anderson C.B., K.H. He was regarded as a moderate and supported the William Haines ministries.

Anderson was the real founder of volunteer forces of Victoria for in 1855 he raised a rifle corps in Melbourne, which was not only the first in Victoria, but probably the first in Australia. Anderson was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 1st Melbourne Rifles. On 21 March 1862, when Colonel Pitt was called to the New Zealand War, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was elevated to the position of colonel-commandant of all the Victorian volunteer force, including the administration of the naval branch.

Anderson attended the commission on colonial defences which met in Sydney in 1881. Anderson died on 23 January 1882 at his home in South Yarra. Anderson had married Caroline née Davidson on 1 May 1856. They had four children: daughters Mary and Fairlie, and sons Acland Alfred Gordon and Douglas.